Breaking THE worst habit

[screamertrumpet]

Don,

That's a great analogy. I'll have to try that when I practice.

Thanks,
Trevor

[Goldenchops55]

Quad C,
I got Science of breath today, and I have couple of questions. First of all, should I read through the whole book or just the part by Swami Rama? What excersises do you recommend to help breath control development?

[Quadruple C]

[ This Message was edited by: Quadruple C on 2003-10-01 18:35 ]

[tom turner]

[stickyvalves]

Trevor,
Can you do a lip trill? I'd be willing to bet you can't. Try working with either the Colin or Irons book (this will take a lot of patient dedicated practice) and seeing if you can train yourself to do a proper lip trill (not a shake). Start around a top line "g" with a 1-3 valve combo.
You'll find that it is impossible to play "wrong" and make a nice relaxed lip trill. If you can learn to do these I guarantee great results in your playing. Be patient....Don't try and mess with mouthpieces or chops or some magic book or method..this will make things worse. I notice you're giving kind of daily updates...the kind of progress you want to make will take a long time..just hang in there!
Good luck!

[Emb_Enh]

Check your lip setting/efficiency before ANYTHING else....if this is'nt right ALL the air on planet earth ain't gonna help ya! Your lips need to be focussed and close, which ANY double pedal work will not help if you get it wrong.
_________________
Regards, Roddy o-iii RoddyTpt@aol.com

"E M B O U C H U R E___E N H A N C E M E N T"
BOOK 1 also... BOOK 2 + demo CD

[Self Analysis and Diagnostic Trumpet Method]

[Goldenchops55]

Screamertrumpet,
You are having trouble with range. Do you have any of the tasteebros books? Their concepts really helped me with my range. They focus mainly on air. I think Arnold Jacobs once said: "Playing is 90% air, 9%mental, and 1% chops."

[Quadruple C]

[ This Message was edited by: Quadruple C on 2003-10-01 18:36 ]

[screamertrumpet]

Hey guys,

I just got back from a lesson with my lead/jazz teacher. I talked to him about the problem I've been having (he's an avid Bill Adam student of a student). He stated:
Do not focus on the embouchure at all. He then quoted Bill Adam in saying, "The embouchure is the formation of proper breath." (I think that's how he said it)
When you breath right, everything should fall into place. Think about the breath and the sound only. Then said, "Float the sound on the breath."
He then said that when you get "tense" just think like you're yawning or producing warm air. I think I'll go try these methods and then get back to you on them.
No, I've never been able to do shakes/lip trills unless the front of my tongue is raised substantially. Then, I just raise and lower it. Then again, it only worked for notes under high C.
Yeah, I read an excerpt from the Tastee Bros page. It made a lot of sense but I haven't gotten their book.
Thanks,
Trevor

[Nicholas Dyson]

[screamertrumpet]

Mr. Dyson,
Now that I think about it, I have no idea on how I'm supposed to play higher using this method. I understand the fundamentals of playing high, but how am I supposed to increase air speed if I can't put tension in my abs? You're right, I need to focus a little more on increasing air speed instead of worrying about this method right now. I think I'll go back to trying Roddy's closed aperture technique and doing more exercises out of Science of Breath, and then if worse comes to worse I'll order Jeff Smiley's book.
Thanks for the insight,
Trevor

[Nicholas Dyson]

Trevor,
No ab pressure? There's your problem. Your diaphram (actually, most of the muscles around the diaphram) is where ALL the work happens.

Think of it as space flight... you wanna visit the stratosphere, you're not going to get there with out the boosters (abs) burning up all that jet fuel (air).

There should be as little tension as humanly possible in your chest, neck, and everywhere else that isn't your abs and embouchure. However, I won't get into embouchure here, as there are a lot more knowledgeable on that subject...

I highly recommend going to http://www.monette.com and requesting a copy of their 'Mouthpiece Guide', not neccesarily for the mouthpieces (although they are worth their weight in gold!), but more for constructive ways to approach the instrument. Dave goes through different Hatha Yoga and Alexander Technique streams of thought, and applies them directly NOT to 'How to be a better trumpet player', but 'How to better communicate with your audience through playing your trumpet in the most effecient manner in order to acheive maximum resonance'.

I think everyone should read it, actually. It can't be a bad thing to put through your personal stream of consciousness.

I was up until the wee hours of the morning contemplating the merits of his thoughts and how it pertains to SuperChops. Pretty fruitless, I am in the beginning stages of learning SC. We'll see, should be interesting.
_________________
Nicholas Dyson
Ottawa, Canada

[screamertrumpet]

Mr. Dyson,
Thanks for all your help. I actually know what to do and how to increase my range now. So, the only I can do now is practice.
Good luck with Super Chops. The marching band is going to Everette/Seattle in the fall. If you're playing then, I could probably bargain with my band conductor (he's a trumpet guy, too) to come and watch...
Thanks Mr. Dyson,
Trevor

[histrumpet]

Hey Trevor,
I have been kind of reading along and would like to say that air is important but chops are too. If you get a chance go to trumpet stuff.com and look at the pictures of Eric Miyashiro. For Eric it takes more than air and abs, this cat's got some chops!